Treadmills: motor, deck and belt size are the purchase; the screen is the upsell

How to match continuous horsepower and belt length to the people who'll use it, what a folding frame costs you, and which subscription features you can ignore.

A treadmill is a motor, a deck and a belt. Everything else — the console, the programs, the streaming classes — is layered on top and can be replaced by a tablet on a stand. Buy the mechanical part for how it will actually be used.

Motor

Look for continuous horsepower (CHP), not peak. 2.5 CHP handles walking and light jogging; 3.0+ for regular running; 3.5+ if a heavier runner will use it daily. A motor that runs near its ceiling is loud and short-lived.

Belt and deck

• Length: 55 inches is enough for walking; runners want 60 inches, taller runners more. Short belts are the most common regret.
• Width: 20 inches is standard; 22 feels noticeably safer at speed.
• Cushioning: adjustable or at least rated; it matters for knees and for noise through the floor.
• Incline: 10–12% covers most training; decline is a luxury. Powered incline is worth having; manual incline means stopping to change it.

Frame and footprint

Folding frames save floor space and cost rigidity; a non-folding frame is the better machine at the same price if the room allows. Check the unfolded length plus two feet of clearance behind the belt, and the ceiling height against your height plus the deck height plus the incline.

What to check

• Weight capacity with margin (rated capacity minus 50 lb is a safer working number).
• Warranty split: frame, motor, parts, labour — the labour term is the one that bites.
• Max speed if anyone sprints (12 mph is common, 10 on cheaper units).
• Assembly and delivery: these weigh 200–350 lb; threshold delivery means the garage.

Ignore, mostly

• Touchscreen size and subscription content — a tablet holder does the same job without a monthly fee.
• "Peak" horsepower.
• Fan, speakers and cup-holder counts.

Timing

January is the worst month to buy; late summer and the November sales are the best. Floor models and refurbished units from the manufacturer carry full warranties and real discounts.

Today's prices

Every seller we found, ranked by total price: treadmill.

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